Darwin family ‘distraught’ after home trashed in ‘senseless attack’

Shane Weatherstone and spouse Tanya mentioned the escalating crime was driving folks out of the Territory and known as on the federal government to be extra proactive in tackling the issue.

The couple spent the higher a part of final 12 months reworking their Moulden residence right into a rental solely to have it vandalised just some weeks after completion.

“We basically sold everything we own to get it ready,” Mr Weatherstone informed 9News in an unique interview.

They relocated to Auckland in December after Mr Weatherstone was provided a brand new job.

But the household’s recent begin shortly turned bitter when Shane acquired pictures from their son exhibiting their residence of greater than 15 years torn aside.

“We were very distraught, upset, lost, confused,” Mr Weatherstone mentioned.

With rates of interest on the rise and insurance coverage unlikely to cowl the price, they’re dealing with a protracted street forward to rebuild their residence and their lives.

“It’s not something we paid cash for. We’re like everyone else, we took out a loan,” Mr Weatherstone mentioned.

“It’s our superannuation. We’ll walk away with nothing now because we want to repair it and leave the Territory.”

The injury is estimated to be in extra of $100,000. But Mr Weatherstone mentioned greater than flooring and partitions had been destroyed.

“It’s where our children were born, it’s their childhood home,” he mentioned.

“It’s heartbreaking. A lot of hard work and memories just gone down the drain.”

Having been a resident of Darwin for near thirty years – Mr Weatherstone mentioned he’d watched the neighborhood he fell in love with deteriorate on account of escalating crime.

“The Territory to me is a very special place but now, it’s just unliveable,” he mentioned.

“There’s a sense of the authorities giving up, it’s in the too-hard basket.”

Determined to see the neighborhood enhance, Mr Weatherstone met with native member Eva Lawler this morning to lift his considerations, calling for extra police on the streets and extra politicians talking up for victims of crime.

“What’s being done at the moment isn’t working. It’s hurting a lot of people, it’s hurting a lot of families,” he mentioned.

Lawler informed 9News she had met with police and was working to extend CCTV and focused social order patrols throughout the Drysdale voters.

Police mentioned they’d recognized two youngsters who had been aiding with inquiries however no fees had been laid.